(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-12-12 07:42

Regarding the latest United States intelligence report on Iran, we want to say, "That's not what you told us". The report says that Teheran halted its nuclear weapons program in autumn 2003. The National Intelligence Estimate draws together information from 16 US intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency.

The report is one of the documents on which the formulation of US foreign and security policy is based. The bulk of the report is classified, and only the conclusion was made public. The United Nations Security Council adopted two sanction resolutions against Teheran, and was moving toward further action.

US President George W. Bush recently issued a strong warning against Iran. Apprehension had been spreading around the world that the US might finally move to launch air strikes against Iran.

However, the latest report undoubtedly defused that built-up tension. It is a good thing that the possibility of military options has ceded for a while.

The latest analysis refutes an intelligence report two years ago that concluded that "Iran has decided to develop nuclear weapons". We laud the US decision to make the latest conclusion public, despite the anticipated loss of face.

The US gathers intelligence from around the world, including information from spy satellites. Washington's actions are based on this intelligence, and the entire world gets drawn in as a result.

Changes in the assessments are understandable to a degree, but for countries that have been drawn in, it is difficult to cheerfully accept how such an assessment can change so drastically.

According to US reports, the intelligence that led to the assessment shift had been reported to Bush as early as August this year.

So why did the president continue to warn against the nuclear threat of Iran? We would like the US government to provide a full explanation on when the president acknowledged the contents of the latest intelligence assessment.

It was revealed that the US administration had exaggerated intelligence information prior to attacking Iraq four years ago.

Congress raked over this problem thoroughly, and the make-up of the intelligence community came under review. If intelligence is warped and tailored to match the administration's wishes, then such an act would be outrageous for the rest of the world. The same mistake must not be made twice.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a "victory statement" following the report. However, the National Intelligence Estimate still points out that Teheran stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003 only in response to international pressure.

Iran should clearly show that it will fully cooperate with inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The report also indicates that European-led negotiations and international pressure were, in fact, effective. Cool-headed diplomatic efforts should be allowed to continue.

The Asahi Shimbun

(China Daily 12/12/2007 page11)